The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-13
BISMARCK.
Great Spirit of the Venerable Ger
man Statesman before the
Reichstag.
Bismarck Keeps an eye on France
but Evidently Fears Her
Not.

Guiding his great speech in the rechsag last night
in favor of the 7evenyear army supply bill, said:
what is Bulgaria t. usy 1t is all the same to us
who ever governs there. The friendship of Russia
is surely more important to us than that of Bull
g8Tia We have not allowed ourselves to be in
duced by any one to make an enemy of Russia for
the sake of Bulgaria. 70 maintain good relations
among the powers is more dficultthan you think.
We cannot allow ouI efforts to be nulfed by
with France continue good. To maintain them is
difficult because a long historical process
must be accomplished before the feelings of the
past are appeased and differences reconciled
Nr have done everything to induce the French
to forget and forgive. We have no present ground
to apprehend war with France Neither have we
any reason to fear it if it should happen There
can be no questson about our attacking France,
but we must protect ourselves against attacks.
Under no circumstances shall we attack France,
but we shall always he compelled to arm ourselves
in such manner as to be equal to the contingency
of war. This is the supreme object of the army
bill | have firm confidence in the peaceful dispo-
sition of the French government, aud the a-socia.
tiOns of the French people. Still the past teaches
lis that we cannot count upon peace with France
us permanent. government may one day come
INTO power at Paris which will make war upon
us. This government must take into account
II we do not prepare to day, when war comes, we
shall graft e7erything' we should be laughed at.
Is there in Frame single paper that says: "We re-
nounce our rights 10 Alsan Loraine" The possi-
blity of French aggres is therefore sufficient
motive for the bill. France s strong and well
med power. Her army is brave and ready to
Il 5ht. We must never sit with our hands in our
laps. However powerful France may look for the
moment, suppose the French proved victorious,
wbatwould we have to expect? We should have
the sama French against us from whom we suffered
from 1867 to 1873, and who should again 80 suck
our blood that we would be paralyzed for thirty
years. Endeayors would be made to permanently
weaken Such demands would be
made as to give up Hanover. l am only
describing possibilities that that might arise in the
ip MARA cnil6fa DlaV in r0mn1ris0n with VII at
plan would be after war in 1890. He who wishes
10 take the responsibility for this let him. The
federal government will not take that RESPONSE
bility, and they therefore submit Chis bid. They
wish to have permanently sufficient trained SOL
diers in the empire. We have chosen seven
years. term, because this was the period of the
pre- ions compromise, and our constitutional life
depends upon that compromise: The federal
council did all they could in consenting to the
s9ptennial term. They had Ionly the interests and
security of the empire and the well being Of the
aJherand in view. 10 you believe that if you re-
| fuse to adopt the term proposed in the bill the
| federal council Rwi deviate from their
original proposal. If a similar demand is made in
France, do you think that there is any possibility
for placing difficulties in the way of the govern
ment. In regard to the period of duration of the
uill especially in view of the fact we have kept
strictly to the text and spirit of the constitution,
it is understood now that we shall absolutely adher
! to our demand for these ptendial clause.
we cannot give waXneven , hair breadth;
l
ways the same majority in this house!
| DO you wish to make the rise and fall of
the German army depend on the majorities in the
sasiag BY doing you e5ange 3s
force In this case we might have to appeal to the
electors to discover whether that is really the wish
Of The nation. We shall see whether the electors
will permit the idea to expect proceedings in whi
| the strength of the army is to he determined by
| the rechstag without the consent of the federal
council and of the emperor, You can hardly ex-
pect that the emperor, in his 81 years, will con-
tribute to the destruction of the work to which he
has devoted the last thirty years of his life-the
creation of Germany and the army of the German
! empire. If you believe that possible; If
4 you entertain the slightest suspicion that
these are our aims; and If you do not
speedily satisfy wishes of the federal government
REGARDING the defensive powers of Germany by a
complete acceptance of the bill, WE'LL then we pre-
Ter 80 deal with another rechstag, and will enter
! into no further with YOU. The danger in which
| we might place Germany by procrastination forces
! ne TO promptly obtain decisive answer or to ad-
| dress ourselves to another who will give us such
answer"
At the conclusion of the speech Prince Bismarck
/ was loudly cheered Bismarck became passionate
| when referring to France, and was apparently in
| different as to what impression his words were
| tiEely to make There was marked difference in
| his references to Russia. Every word he utterod
| showed his anxiety not to offend Russia or make
! her suspicious. During his speech Bismarck
! drank nine glasses of co d brandy and water.
While the debate was going on the galleries in the
rPclstag were crammed and the streets adjacent to
the house were thronged with people
| AFRENCH VIEW.
| PARIS, January l2.-The speech of Prince Bis
marck reichstag created deep iimpres.
| sion here and the general opinion is that it does
| not increase the prospects of peace.
| The Matin, in its comments on the German
the German flag floats over Metz and Strasburg
\